Dehydrator plug



June 13, 1950 H.- A. LocKwooD nEHYnRAToR PLUG Filed April 22,1947

INVENTOR. HARRY A LmKwn un BY my;

ATTORN EY.

glass.

Patented June 13, 1950 Harry A. Lockwood, Westport, Conn., assignor to ClarkMetal Products, Inc., Fairfield, Conn., a

Y corporation of Connecticut Application April 22, 1947, serial No. 743,184

9 claims. (ol. iss-f4.8)

"-v The present invention relates to a deyhdrator plug for the purpose of attachment to a closed structure for removing moisture from the interior of such structure, and in certain types of structure for preventing corrosion .therein due to humidity. Al particular application of the invention is to internal combustion engineswhile in storage or shipmentthe plugs adapted to be screwed into the spari; plug openings after removal of the spark plugs, so that the interior of the engine is exposed to a desiccant contained in the plug, such desiccant. being, for example, silica gel crystals. 1,. Dehydrator plugs have been employed for this purpose heretofore, but their construction and operation have been such as to result in certain disadvantages, which it is an object of the presont invention to overcome. For instance, certain plugshave been constructed of thermo-plastic material, which had a relatively high water vapor transmission rate through the Walls surrounding the desiccant, with the result that the desiccant was not efectually sealed from ambient atmospere while ,the plug was in use or in storage. In either caserrapid deterioration of the desiccant would take place. Also such plugs have employed screens or slots for permitting access of the air in the engine cylinder to the desiccant and these were apt to permit small particles of the desiccant to drop into the engine cylinder. Also, the screen means employed was inserted from the lower end of the plug, so that in the event of failure of the screen retaining means, it waspossible for the screen to drop into'the engine cylinder, in which case it became necessary to disassemble the en#- gine for the purpose of removing the screen and desiccant from the cylinder. A further disadvantage has been that the construction usually required that the desiccant be sealed in by the manufacturer, so that it could not readily be removed and renewed in the field.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dehydrator plug in which the container for the desiccant is formed of material having an especially low water vapor transmissionV rate through its walls, such material being preferably It is further proposed to provide such container, so located that the desiccant will be clearly visible through its walls when installed in the engine, when viewed either from the side or from the end. Another object is to provide sealing means which will eiectually seal the desiccant -prior to installation in the engine so that the necessity for storing in sealed metal containers, or the like, is eliminated.

w Another object is to provide a desiccant retention means in theform of a filter through vwhich.

it is impossible for the crystals of the desiccant to drop, such iilter being, for instance, -a disc of compressed sinteredmaterial such as metal, glass,l ceramics, or the like, which provides free pas. sage of waterhvaporrto the desiccant, and at the same time-positively prevents the escape of dust or particles oi thel desiccant due to corrosion. It is further proposed to provide a plug structure in which the'iilterand other component parts are assembled in Ithe plug from the upper end and are positivelyV retained against any possibility of falling into the engine cylinder.

Anotherobje'ct isto provide a dehydrator plug which permits the easy'replacement of expended desicc'ant,an'd it is particularly proposed to providemeans which can be operated with the iingers alone, without the necessity for tools, for the purpose of removing and replacing the desiccant. A further object is to provide a dehydrator plug in which the glass container is effectually protected againstV breakage, either due to physical contact therewith, or due to shock, the latter object being accomplished by means of a, floating or cushioned mount for the glass container.

Another object is to provide a dehydrator plug which is soV constructed that at strategic points dissimilar metals `which would produce electrolysis are not in contact, this condition being carried out both in the plug itself when not in use, and in the installation of the plug in the engine.

A further object is to provide a plug having a high resistance to cold ow, so that loosening of the threads due to temperature induced contractionis prevented. HIn particular, it is proposed to construct the body portion of the plug from phenolic thermo-settingmaterial, which has a high resistance to cold flow, as distinguished, for instance, from thermo-plastic material. With the above and other objects in View, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a dehydrator plug,

according to the illustrated exemplary embodi engine cylinder head I4, as shown in Fig. 5. In teriorly the body member is provided with a cy-Y lindrical pocket I for receiving the desiccantl container, the base of this pocket being; formed by an annular shoulder I6, and a counter-sunk annular recess Il, and a central passage IBextending downwardly through the plug portion I2 from the recess Il.

Exteriorly the body member is provided with ats I9, giving it -a hexagonal form, for the purpose of facilitating its engagement and disengagement with the engine, by means of a-spark plug wrench, or the like. At diametrically opposed points there are provided flats 2Uhaving upwardly inclined holesY 2| formed thereinifor the purpose of receiving the ends of the spring clip member, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Within therecess Il, thereis vseated a circular filter disc 22, preferably for-med of sintered metal, glass, ceramics, or the like, and Aupon theshoulder I5 there is supported a rubber gasket 23, its outer periphery being in contact with the cylindrical wall ofthe pocket I5 and itsinnerperiphery being inwardly spaced from the outer periphery ofthe filter disc 22. The filter disc 22 is slightly thicker than the depth of the recess I'I, sothat its slightly raisededge is eectually sealed by the rubber gasket 23. The desiccant container# 24 is in theform of a cylindrical glass cup member, open at itslower end'and-closedrat'its u-pper end, its external diameter being'such that it fltsslidably within the cylindrical pocket I5, its lower edge seating upon the rubber gasket 23 inthe assembled zposition.

Upon the, upper closedendofthe'container 24 there isengaged a flanged cap 25,1 providedcentrally with an upwardly extending tubular wall portionr 26, preferably provided at itsupper edge with a' curled rim 271. The tubular wall portion is provided at diametrically opposedI points withfvertically disposed slots 28; which are `engaged by the upper transverse end of 'a bale-like spring clip member 29. This upper transverse end is provided with horizontalend portions and an upwardly bowed intermediate portion 3|); the latter extending through the slots 28 while the horizontal end portionsengage rmly, with the upper surface oi' the cap ateach side of fthe. Wall portion 2S. The side legs extenddownwardlyin parallel relation at each side of Lthe, exposed portion of the glass container 24, their lower por.- tionsbeing outwardly offset bymeansof angular bends 3l, so that these .portions aregdisposed-n parallel relation at each side of the body-member It, the lower ends ofthe sidey legs ,beingprovided with inwardly andupwardlyV inclinedhooks32 engaged inthel upwardly inclined holes12'l `pro-- vided in the body member. Each ofzthe side -legs is provided nearthe upper'end offthe clip member with a serpentine sl'laped.'1sprngA section-.33

, the gasket with the slightly raised edge of the lter disc 22 prevents dust particles from entering the-engine cylinder. The condition of the desiccantcan belreadily seen either from the side through the wallof the container 24 or from the end through the tubular w-all portion 26 of the cap. The side legs of the spring clip protect the sides of the glass container, and the cooperative effect of the spring clip and the rubber washer is to providev a floating mount for the glass container so that it isV protected against breakage from shock. In filling the gl-ass container 24 withthe desiccant 3ft, the open end is held upwardly and the desiccant poured therein, the body member IU being thereupon engaged downwardly upon the open end of the container. The bod;r member and container may then be turned. into upright .position andsecuredby'swinging the cap member and springl clip intok retaining position. The Ayieldable spring clip maybe swung into open and closed positionsfwhile the hook ends 32 remain in the holes 2l, the bowed upper portion 30 permitting the upper end of the clip to clear the upper edge of thel container as the cap is forced into orvout-of place thereon.

A flanged screw cap 35-'is adapted to be screwed upon the screw plugportion I2 of the body mem.- ber to seal itprior to installation in the engine, arubber-'sealing gasket 36 beingv disposed between `the ange I I and the flange of the cap. As shownfin Fig, 5; this gasket 36 may also be used upon installation of the'plug in the engine cylinder to -forma seal between the engine'head and the flange Il;

Ihave illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of theinvention, but it will be understood'that changes may be made therein, within they spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

What'is claimed is:`

1. In a dehydrator plug, a body memberof generally tubular form havingrran axial opening ex tending, therethrough, said opening having an annularY shoulder intermediatey its ends. forming afpocket` attone side of :said shoulder andan inletpassage. for. air attheother side,.a desiccant container of inverted .cup-shape havingits open end engaged in saidpocketabove said shoulder. anda moisture permeablemember extending entirely across and supported transverselywin. said opening andconstitutinga bottom support for the-desiccant lin said container.

2s In1a.- dehydraton plug,. a1. body? member of generally-,tubular form having.y an-axial opening extending atlfiereth-rough;y said `opening having an annular shoulder intermediate -its Iends forming avrpocket atene' side of saidshoulder and an inletrpassage-for-fair at tlie'other side; a desiccant container of'` invertedf cup-shape having .its openi end engaged Ain fsaid :pocketabove said-shoulder, and amoisture' permeable. memben extending entirely across and supported;transversely,'inl said open-ingl andl constituting a; bottom support for therdesiccant' imsaid; container; andresiliently:

yieldable retaining means connected between the closed end of said container and said body member to retain said container in said pocket.

3. In a dehydrator plug, a body member of generally tubular form having an axial opening extending therethrough, said opening having an annular shoulder intermediate its ends forming a pocket at one side of said shoulder and an inlet passage for air at the other side, a desiccant container of inverted cup shape having its open end engaged in said pocket above said shoulder, and a moisture permeable member extending entirely across and supported transversely in said opening and constituting a bottom support for the desiccant in said container, a cap member engaged with the closed end of said container, and resiliently yieldable retaining means connected between said cap member and said body member to retain said container in said pocket.

4. In a dehydrator plug, a ebody member of generally tubular form having an axial opening extending therethrough, said opening having an annular shoulder intermediate its ends forming a pocket at one side of said shoulder and an inlet passage for air at the other side, a sealing gasket seated upon said shoulder, a desiccant container of inverted cup-shape having its open end engaged in said pocket above said shoulder, with its edge in sealing engagement with said gasket, a moisture permeable member extending entirely across and supported transversely in said opening and constituting a bottom support for the desiccant in said container, and resiliently yieldable retaining means connected between the closed end of said container and said body member to retain said container in said pocket.

5. In a dehydrator plug, a body member of generally tubular form having an axial opening extending therethrough, said opening having an annular shoulder intermediate its ends forming a pocket at one side of said shoulder and an inlet passage for air at the other side, said shoulder having a counter-sunk recess, a desiccant container of inverted cup-shape having its open end engaged in said pocket above said shoulder, and a moisture permeable member engagedin said recess extending entirely across said opening and constituting a bottom support for desiccant in said container.

6. In a dehydrator plug, a body member of generally tubular form having an axial opening extending therethrough, said opening having an annular shoulder intermediate its ends forming va pocket at one side of said shoulder and an inlet passage for air at the other side, a desiccant con- 'tainer of inverted cup-shape having its open end engaged in said pocket, a moisture permeable member extending entirely across and supported transversely in said opening and constituting a a pocket at one side of said shoulder and an inlet passage for air at the other side, a desiccant container of inverted cup-shape having its open end engaged in said pocket, a moisture permeable member extending entirely across and supported transversely in said opening and constituting a bottom support for desiccant in said container and a yieldable spring member having a transverse portion engaged with the closed end of said container and side leg portions pivotally connected to said body member to retain said container in said pocket.

8. In a dehydrator plug, a body member having an opening extending therethrough, said opening having a shoulder intermediate its ends forming a pocket at one side of said shoulder and an inlet passage at the other side, a moisture permeable member supported transversely in said opening, a desiccant container of inverted cup-shape having its open end engaged in said pocket, s aid body member having an external iiange and an external threaded portion at one side of said ange, a threaded sealing cap engaged with said threaded portion, and a sealing gasket disposed between said flange and said sealing cap.

9. In a dehydrator device, a body member of generally tubular form having an axial opening extending therethrough, said opening having an annular abutment spaced below its upper end, desiccant retaining means engaged with said body member above said shoulder, and a moisture permeable member supported by said abutment and extending entirely across said opening to constitute a bottom support for the desiccant.

HARRY A. LOCKWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 418,266 Barker Dec. 31, 1889 1,705,042 Babitch Mar. 12, 1929 2,267,918 Hildabolt Deo. 30, 1941 2,335,901 Ayers, Jr Dec. 7, 1943 2,406,993 Chandler Sept. 3, 1946 2,407,023 Lockwood Sept. 3, 1946 

